Safety clasp for necklaces



July 26, 1949. A C; TEOUS 2,477,354

SAFETY CLASP FOR NECKLACES y Filed Jan. l0, 1948 dfa INVEN TOR.

BY' Cim/w21 Patented July 26, `1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETYCLASP Foa NEoKLAoEs Angelo Ceasar Teolis, Johnston, R. I. ApplicationJanuary 1o, 194s, serial No. 1,515

e saidfslot soas to `positively prevent the clasp from disengaging inthe event that a sudden jar or other movement urges the male `membernotches away from the female member end wall and with a supplementalsafety feature that the claspcan only be completely disengaged if themale member is tilted at right angles to the female member. e e

A further object of my invention is to provide a claspwhich can. becompletely disengaged if desired or which may, if desired not to becompletely disengaged, provide the twosafety features mentioned above.

Afurther object` of my invention is to provide a clasp of thisdescription `wherein all the above latching and locking features residein the structure `of the male member itself andin which the shape of themale member provides successive latching features thereby obviating thenecessity of any cooperating posts in or special construction of thefemale member.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device constructedoftwo parts only, each of which may be readily made from a single piece ofmaterial and thus to provide a device which is relatively easy and cheapto manufacture A further object ofmy invention is to provide a latchwhich has no weak parts apt to break, or protruding 'parts apt to stickinto the wearer.

These and such other objects of myinvention as may `hereinafter appearwill be best understood from a descriptionof the accompanying drawingswhich illustrateembodiments thereof.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a safety clasp constructed in accordancewith my invention.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are side views of my improved clasp member withaside wall removed and showing the top, bottom and end walls in sectionalong the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the male clasp member invariousrelative positions in elevation, Fig. 2 showing the device completelylocked, Fig. 3 showing the device par- 4 Claims. (Cl. 24+214)tiallyunlocked, Fig. 4 showing how the bulges in the loop function as asupplemental latch to prevent disengagement of the strap should the malemember be urged out of the notches and Fig.` 5 Abeing a viewillustrating how the male member must be tilted substantially at rightangles from its attached position for insertion or removal from thefemale member.

` Fig; 6 is an end elevation of the male member taken from its outerend. e

`Fig. 7 is a perspective view of my preferred embodiment of male member.

Fig, 8 is a side elevation of a different embodiment of my inventionhaving instead of the eye means on the outer` ends of the male memberand female'member for attachment to the strap ends,` sleeves on theouter ends of said respective members to receive pins on the ends of theadjacent respective strap ends.

" Fig. 9 is a bottom View of the structure shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of male member.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a further modified form of male member.

In the drawings, wherein `like characters of reference generallyindicate like parts throughout, 2!! generally indicates a safety claspfor the ends 2.2 and 24 of a necklace, chain, bracelet, strap` or thelike. Said safety clasp 2li comprises a hollow female member 2Epreferably of fiat oblong box shape which may be readily stamped out offlat stock with or without a cover. Said female member has thetransverse slot 28 inthe inner end 30 thereof of substantial length toreceive the male member 32 therein. Said female member may also beprovided with suitable strap attaching means 34 on the outer endthereof, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-5 comprising a plurality ofaligned eyes`36 and in the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a-transverse sleeve 38 projecting outwardly from said female member 26.The inner end of the adjacent strap end 22 is preferably provided withthe spaced ears 40 and the securing pin` 42, having the upset ends 43,extends through said ears and sleeve to pivotally attach the strap end2?. to the outer end of the female member. It is obvious, however, thatany suitable type of strap end attaching means may be provided.

The resilient male member 32, wherein my invention chiefly resides, ispreferably constructed of a single piece of material which, when reducedto narrow form, is resilient. Said member 32 comprises an upper jaw 44adapted to project 3 inwardly through said slot -28 within said femalemember 25 and a lower jaw d6 adapted to project similarly inwardlythrough said slot .28 within the hollow female member 2B. Said malemember is provided with strap end attaching means 48 on the outer endthereof, in the ernbodiment shown in Figs. 1-7 comprising the eyes 5D,two in the upper jaw and one in the lower jaw, although any othersuitable type of strap end attaching means may be provided, such as thesleeveg52. proj'ectingoutwardly,from. the upper jaw shown in Fig. 8, thespaced ears 54 on the inner end of the strap end 24 and the pin 56 exe..

tending through said sleeve 52 and., ears 5A having the upset ends 58 tosecure it in position, although any other suitable typeuofgnieansmay beprovided to attach the male, member 32`V to the strap end 24.

I also provide the resilient loop Si) joining inner ends of saidupper-.jaw i4 and lower jaw i6 together, of greater width than, thesloty 2.18,. Said '4.4, and. tleachhave the notch t2y and 64reect'iy'elyf on tha; ves ternnal surface thereof,

whereby. saidfjaws may besdueezed, together for i ser" 'thiny saicl'-slot 28H. aV manner to be ee andre d" teeether in squeezed. eensitiorruntiljsar hes and M come opposite the portions ijl i l n f tell.Wall 3ft. O f femalemember 2.6, when er1 removal of compressiononaidjaws, said resil- QPQQDJsQ-tma-@115s tiQ-mltqexpand 0r Spread toengage the portionsY @Sand @8^ of the.. end wall Oxthe female member at:the; endsof said slot 28 Within Searietehes t2 enel tteepeetivela. Saidl E@ the,l embodiment; shown on the upper g a, slight groove l2. betweenSaid; loop in 'the` em- ,is-.desired .tefremeve the member. completedfrein the femele member, is provdedwth a la'rge' bulge 14s orifthe.-reeeeeiteelde.teereet in. the-embodiment. showin the lower side thereofadjacent thelower; jaw. 46. le. all embodiments tllefleee- 60. has. e.substantially flat inner end`wal1 lgainla groove. 1g'. is atei/.isletbetween. the iat-1er enel et the Ierse leiter. bulge.. lei, 0f' the:loop t@ and the lower jaw te., Whie'a in. the eme@V vident Shown,pfeie'ete ard-1y.. anguiarln fram.;V saldi groove 18, thetaleeC Sadattelle-endete devieeiese Shaped that the.

en -.ef both: the uuuet-hlllge l 0.- andtheJeWi-er bi1 erarbeitetesgreater than-tno width-of said.. slot 23g, whereby saidbulges..10..andl14.,may retain Seid..

109 emsieSstaeratee Widtheteaidslot `2t:.fer.A t. Dari-Dese,Itis-.Devious hewever., thatthis..

the..

I4,h asat,least a. slightbulge 'Non one side.

Til.. tlfuaproieating upwardlyoas at. 8.-!)- to l.

However, when;

hculii mbo dosiliedio.. themale mcmberandj.

female member may be released a limited amount only and not completelydisengaged.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-7, the upper bulge comprises theslight arcuate bulge extending upwardly from the groove 1! to thesubstantially flat end wall I6 of the' loop with the upper jaw 44extending substantially horizontally outwardly from the groove l2connecting said bulge 'l of the loop with the inner end of said jaw. lfnthi@ embodiment the, entire lower portion is arcuateto. thel groove 'I&donnecting-.the-loop with the downwardly projecting lowerjaw d6. Ifdesired, however, the Vexact shape of the loop may beslightly. varied sothat the respective bulges i0 and 'lill are not of true arcuate shape,but may comprise generally straight lines as shown in Figs. 1Q, and` 11which differ from each other in that the ends vofthe inner wall of theloop shown ii ri1ig,fl1l are joined to the respective bulges byadditional straight lines thereby more closely Simulating, the, eurredlines. of.. theme19. of. the ere.. erreell eindtermen rigs..` 1-3.. The.respective bulges 5B, "Eiland M ahndltheir respect. tiltefsiltilarfportions.. 12,. ifi.. arid til are. respec- 25 t' a grimexla-l 1l0.abdid'qubl'e nrimedin. iileftte @parametres-@fthe parte he Shapesthereof. vary; somewhat. rem,ti1at-ehewrir1-the.-ureferrederof.

ed melefmemberl withiathe.. female 1"; mb`e1f...,it. smerelaneeessmfy t9eqmrresatha .meldet the ueber. etldilower. Jewett: and: 45, mele-memhe.tee

fr. the. horizontal. Sales to ring. the.. portion. the...Diretti/seattle. endl welll. of the loon-end.. tlleeu er. and .tacimobilise-Mii; 4theiwifith. 0f the; lower'. leen meager into. position.sol that tileAA 1yr lower bulge 'i4 may be inserted through',theslot.y2,.,as..shewrilin.Eia5,.. I.rimedi.atleetY @litter` insertien the male.member.. ismaisedsuhstantiallr 950 tele I zgntalpastign.andlwhile-tbevupper. and.

.aeliegstillgcompressed themaie miem- 4pm. ber is inserted inwardlyfror'n .tlfie\,l29$.ili0n shown. 1. 1 .-.LEe 4, threueilitheaositienshewn in'llie- Site ttl. pe tiens n.ir1;Eig 2i.Wbeu ea pressurebe re edfrolrn5 theupper and loxlviery jaws` 44.. ande 4.5.,respeten/ely... they. may.Y spring.. V 1utwerd1y so., that. theCrespeetiya adigeent pertiensi et and; te @Modenaall-Notthe-ffemelemember may. leleieetwitlii. Saidresueetirefngtches:t2Y and te: when the d. irl.; use. Should.. the. jaws. become@temporarily d uieiandtaxial pressure-he exerted.merely.egteudloutwardlrfuntil the i respective. portionshgand. abuttlfierespeActivel brlessl, lsesshawninrlie, athereiey pesititolapreventing further, disengagement oft. the eat hiaildrrevidiegfe;S.110,131seiileatel.fleeek.V f

lt is...ebyie.us taatteyeatliealthedevieeeemnot glafeadltilted.sabstantiellr malamember. taipsrmltthefleog Ytil tette drawn outofV the slot 28'ir1v the mannerpreyiously explainedlior. insertion.

jaws..

:'Iihave-.provided en will ,remainginsa latcheel-.position eerie. then.willl etbeeeme dises-.-

become-'fuga @engaged-tatu tiie'male memberisf at-Msbtengs to-.trla-feall thereei therein. only afterV Squeeema. pressure ist etet.i1.ed` enfthe respective .f

' T h. device..maygberernoved..in-Traverse :mannen aspre-.f

SD;r with fthe ad;

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specificembodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefromwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A safety clasp for the ends of necklaces, chains, bracelets, strapsand the like, comprising a hollow oblong box shape female member, havingan extended transverse slot in the inner end thereof and strap endattaching eye means on the outer end thereof and a resilient male memberhaving opposite strap end attaching eye means on the outer end thereof,comprising an upper jaw, a lower jaw and a resilient loop of greaterwidth than said slot joining the inner ends of said jaws together, saidjaws each having a notch on the external surface thereof, whereby saidjaws may be squeezed together for insertion within said slit andthereafter on removal of pressure therefrom said jaws may be urgedoutwardly by said resilient loop to receive the portions of the end wallof said female member at the ends of said slot within said notches, saidloop having at least a slight bulge on one side thereof and a largebulge on the opposite side thereof, with the distance between the innerend wall of said loop and the outer end of said large bulge less thanthe width of said slot, with the width of said loop with both saidbulges greater than the width of said slot, whereby said bulge portionsmay retain said male member within said female member if said notchesare released from said end wall and said male member may be removed fromor inserted within said female member on substantially a right angletilting thereof to permit said loop to pass through said slot.

2. A safety clasp for the ends of necklaces, chains, bracelets, strapsand the like, comprising a hollow female member, having an extendedtransverse slot in the inner end thereof and strap end attaching meanson the outer end thereof and a resilient male member having oppositestrap end attaching means on the outer end thereof, comprising an upperjaw, a lower` jaw and a resilient loop of greater width than said slotjoining the inner ends of said jaws together, said jaws each having anotch on the external surface thereof, whereby said jaws may be squeezedtogether for insertion within said slot and thereafter on removal ofpressure therefrom said jaws may be urged outwardly by said resilientloop to receive the portions of the end wall of said female member atthe ends of said slot in said notches, said loop having at least aslight bulge on one side thereof and a large bulge on the opposite sidethereof, with the distance between the inner end wall of said loop andthe outer end of said large bulge less than the width of said slot, withthe width of said loop with both said bulges greater than the width ofsaid slot, whereby said bulge portions may retain said male memberwithin said female member if said notches are released from said endwall and said male member may be removed from or inserted within saidfemale member on substantially a right angle ti1t` ing thereof to permitsaid loop to pass through said slot.

3. A safety clasp for the ends of necklaces,

chains, bracelets, straps and the like, comprising a hollow oblong boxshape female member, having an extended transverse slot in the inner endthereof and strap end attaching eye means on the outer end thereof anda. resilient male member having opposite strap end attaching eye meanson the outer end thereof, comprising an upper jaw, a lower jaw and aresilient loop joining the inner ends of said jaws togther, said jawseach having a notch on the external surface thereof, whereby on removalof pressure therefrom said jaws may be urged outwardly by said resilientloop to receive the portions of the end wall of said female member atthe ends of said slot in said notches, said loop having bulges on eachside thereof, with the width of said loop with both said bulges beinggreater than the width of said slot, whereby said portions may retainsaid male member within said female member if said notches are releasedfrom said end wall.

4. A safety clasp for the ends ofv necklaces, chains, bracelets, strapsand the like, comprising a hollow female member having an extendedtransverse slot in the inner end thereof and strap end attaching meanson the outer end thereof and a resilient male member having oppositestrap end attaching means on the outer end thereof, comprising an upperjaw, a lower jaw and a resilient loop joining the inner ends of saidjaws together, said jaws each having a notch on the external surfacethereof, whereby on removal of pressure therefrom said jaws may be urgedoutwardly by said resilient loop to receive the portions of the end wallof said female member in the ends of said slot in said notches, saidloop having bulges on each side thereof with the width of said loop withboth said bulges being greater than the width of said slot, whereby saidportions may retain said male member within said female member if saidnotches are released from said end wall.

AN GELO CEASAR TEOLIS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Backert Oct. 13, 1925Number

